Multi purpose heater for ice fishing

ABSTRACT

A heating device useful in ice fishing includes a housing having a retractable heater core which carries a self-contained heating substance and a reservoir filled with an evaporable liquid. The heating substance is cooperable with the reservoir to provide vapor and liquid droplets to prevent freezing of water within a hole cut in the ice and is further operable to furnish convectional heating of objects placed at the top of the housing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to improvements in heating devices, and, moreparticularly, to portable heaters used to maintain ice fishing holesopen and provide auxiliary heating for comfort and cooking in frigidtemperatures on the ice.

It is well known that in the sport ice fishing extremely cold weatherconditions affect the comfort and patience of a fisherman. One of themost troublesome problems experienced is that once a hole has been boredin the ice surface to gain access to the lake, stream or river waterbelow, it is very difficult to prevent refreezing of water within thehole. Once this happens, the fishing line and bobber eventually becomefrozen in the ice and the fisherman's ability in determining if bait istaken and in retrieving a hooked fish are definitely impaired. Ratherthan chopping and straining the ice repeatedly at a hole, it has beenfound desirable to develop various heating devices for maintaining theopenness of the hole.

One group of prior art devices directed to solving the above problems,include heaters having housings adapted to be supported on the icecompletely surrounding the hole such as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos.3,507,268 to Anderson and 4,006,732 to Schumm. Other structures areprovided with housings which depend from the ice into or above the holeas illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,541,328 to Boklep, 2,990,829 toMcDonough et al, and 4,294,030 to Stewart. All of these heaters usecharcoal, propane gas or some type of liquid fuel to radiate heat aroundthe hole so that refreezing will not occur.

Another species of heater is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,612,910 wherein ahousing having a heat source is buoyantly supported in the hole.Deflecting means disperse heat from the center of the heater towards thewalls of the hole.

Still another prior art device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,545,118 toStelmach which sets forth ice fishing equipment including a heateradapted to be placed adjacent one side of the hole. The heater directsheat downwardly to a portion of ice at one side of the hole, therebymelting the ice and feeding water to the hole.

Various attempts have been made by each of these patents to alleviatethe reformation of ice within the hole. However, such structures remaincomplex and cumbersome, require high manufacturing costs, produceinsufficient or dispersed heat levels, cause burning and/or tangling ofthe fishing line and exhibit varying degrees of stability when mountedin place.

Thus, there remains a well defined need in this art for a simple yetnovel self-contained, portable structure which produces efficient heattransfer, such as by vaporized heat, to maintain the open water in thehole.

While unrelated to the extreme cold weather problems discussed above,U.S. Pat. No. 3,424,547 to Winniett discloses a unitary, plug-in vesselused to produce vaporized heat for sterilization and food heatingpurposes in the home.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide animproved self-contained, portable heating device to be used at an icefishing site to prevent formation of ice within a hole cut in the ice.

Another object of the invention is to furnish a heating device whichoffers an auxiliary heating feature for comfort and cooking.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a heater positionedaway from the hole so as not to obstruct fishing and yet produceefficient delivery of heat to the hole.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a sturdy yetlightweight, easily manufacturable heater which is convertible tovarious heating applications.

One of the salient features of the invention is a retractable heatercore which may be rearranged depending on the heating purpose.

An attendant feature of the invention is a guide rod structure used toposition internal components of the heater and provide a support forobjects placed thereon.

A further feature of the invention resides in the mounting of the fuelsource and the combustion control of the fuel source provided by adamping structure on the housing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an improved heating device whereina heating source is positioned within a housing and cooperable with afluid reservoir for delivering vaporized heat to maintain an ice fishinghole open, and further operable to provide convectional heating ofobjects placed at the top of the housing.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention contemplates aretractable heater core slidable into and out of a covered housing bymeans of guide rods extending axially of the housing. A self contained,displaceable heating source is mounted at the bottom of the core beneatha removable reservoir containing evaporable fluid. A damping device isformed in the housing for controlling combustion of the heat source. Inone mode, the heat source is cooperable with the reservoir to providevaporized heat to prevent freezing of water within the hole cut in theice. In a second mode, the heat source by replacing the reservoir,provides direct heating for cooking of objects and warming of humanextremities.

The various features of novelty which characterize this invention arepointed out particularly in the claims annexed to and forming a part ofthis specification. For a better understanding of the invention, itsoperating advantages and specific objects obtained by its use, referenceshould be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter inwhich there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention and its attendant objects and advantages will becomebetter understood by reference to the following detailed description ofthe preferred embodiment when read in conjunction with the followingdrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view, with portions broken away, of a heatingdevice showing the preferred form of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a modified form of reservoir used in thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is an assembled view of the reservoir shown in FIG. 2 providedwith a capillary tube;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a base plate used in the heating deviceshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative base plate which may beused with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the heating device shown in FIG. 1 with partsremoved to show the base plate and guide means of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view of the bottom of the heating device shownin FIG. 1 illustrating the damper of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 8--8 of FIG. 1showing the connection of the base plate to the guide means of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a heating device of the presentinvention shown in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference charactersdesignate identical or corresponding parts, a multi purpose heater 10useful in ice fishing climates is best introduced through FIGS. 1 and 9.The heater 10 is placed adjacent a hole 12 formed in the ice layer 14 ofany lake, stream, river or other suitable body of water containing fishor other marine life. Included in the heater 10 is a generallycylindrical, elongated housing 16 preferably formed of light sheet metaland having a bottom wall 18, side wall 20 and an open top 22. Asdetailed in FIGS. 6 and 8, three L-shaped guide rods 24 having integral,bent handle portions 26 are positioned axially of the housing 16 andpass through a circular base plate 28 (FIG. 4) at apertured positions 29generally 120° apart. A lower portion 30 on each rod is threaded andprovided with an upper nut 32 and a lower nut 34 between which the baseplate 28 is sandwiched and effectively supported above the bottom wall18 of the housing 16. A sleeve 36 resting upon the upper nut 32 risesupwardly and encircles each guide rod 24 forming the boundaries formaintaining the position of a disposable, self contained heat source 38which is supported upon the base plate 28. The heat source 38 ispreferably a liquid or gelled fuel housed in a container 40 having aflat bottom totally supported upon the base plate 28 or a steppedbottom, the center portion of which fits within the hole 42 in the baseplate 28. Alternatively, the triangular base plate 44 illustrated inFIG. 5 may be employed to support the liquid fuel or heat source 38,which may have a woven wick 46 or a removable cover (not shown) forigniting the liquid or gelled fuel inside. A lower portion of thehousing sidewall 20 is formed with vent holes 48 which may beselectively covered and uncovered by manipulation of a tab 50 on arotatable collar 52 surrounding the housing 16, thereby serving as adamping device to control combustion of the heat source 38.

Resting upon the top of each sleeve 36 is a corner of a triangular wireframework 54 which circumscribes the three guide rods 24 and providessupport for a fluid reservoir 56 overlying the heat source 38. Thereservoir 56 is shown preferably as a cylindrical vessel having a screwon cap 58 from which a small, hollow elbow fitting 60 extends. AnL-shaped metal tube 62 has an inner end screw threadly attached to thefitting 60 by means of nut 64 and has an outer end attached to aflexible, capillary rubber hose 66. Thus, there is communication fromthe interior of the reservoir 56 and through the fitting 60, tube 62 andhose 66. With the reservoir 56 maintained in place upon the framework 54and by the guide rods 24, the tube 62 fits in a keyhole slot 68 formedin the upper portion of side wall 20 so that the tube 62 and hose 66project beyond the housing 16 for alignment with the hole 12. By virtueof the rotatable fit of the lower portion of the guide rods 24 withinthe nuts 32, 34, the integral handles 26 are adjustable from an inboardposition where they lie within the periphery or the housing 16 as shownin dotted lines of FIG. 6, to an outboard position where they extendradially outwardly from the housing 16. With the handles 26 in theinboard position, a protective, removable cover 70 is employed to closethe top of the housing. As a feature of the invention, the guide rods24, nuts 32, 34, base plate 28, sleeves 36, heat source 38, framework54, and reservoir 56 collectively define a retractable heater coreslidable into and out of the housing 16.

In use, once a hole has been bored in the ice to gain access to thewater below, the fisherman removes the cover 70 and slides the core outto ignite the heat source 38 and fill the reservoir 56 with anevaporable fluid, preferably water conveniently available from the openhole 12 or another source. Following core and cover replacement, theheater 10 is placed on the ice to one side of the hole where it will notobstruct fishing and the hose 66 is placed in the hole 12. After a shortwarm-up period, the heat source 38 transforms fluid in the reservoir 56to steam or vaporized heat delivered through the tube 62 and hose 66 tomaintain the hole open. It should be appreciated the amount of vaporizedheat produced is dependent upon the temperature of the heat source 38,the combustion rate of which is controlled by the damper device 48, 52.It should also be understood that the heater should be positioned at alocation around the hole 12 which offers the optimum draft conditionsfor the result desired. Depending upon the outdoor temperatureconditions, the hose 66 may be placed anywhere from the surface of thewater to various depths in the water.

Turning now to FIGS. 2 and 3, a modified reservoir 56' which may beoptionally used in lieu of reservoir 56 includes a percolating device inwhich the underside of a dish 72 communicates with a hollow stem 74. Thestem 74 passes through a hole in the reservoir cover 58' and is fittedwith a capillary hose 66' adapted to be placed in the hole. With thisconstruction, the heat source 38 percolates fluid in the reservoir 56'so that vaporized heat in the condensed form of steam droplets and wateris delivered to the hole 12 to prevent refreezing.

While the heating mode described above may inherently provide a degreeof radiant heat, it is a distinct feature of the invention that theheater 10 is convertible to another auxiliary heating mode in which thecover 70 and fluid reservoir 56, 56' are removed and the heat source 38is repositioned on the framework 54. In this arrangement, food andbeverages supported upon the handles 26, whether inboard or outboard,may be efficiently heated and human extremities comfortably warmed atthe top of the housing 16.

Unlike prior art devices, the present invention is designed to moreefficiently prevent reformation of ice in a hole through the medium ofvaporized heat generated by the particular arrangement of simple,inexpensively manufactured and maintained components. Use of the presentinvention does not introduce foreign structures around the entireperiphery of the hole and thereby avoids those prior art problems offishing line burning and entanglement as well as housing instabilitycaused by melting ice. Additionally, the present invention eliminatesthe need for sometimes troublesome heat sources such as charcoal, gasand propane and simplifies previous designs using disposable liquid andgelled fuel sources.

Thus, it should be clear the present invention furnishes a lightweightyet sturdy arrangement for providing various heating functions duringice fishing. The preferred embodiment discloses a self-contained,portable heating device convertible between different modes to improvethe comfort and efficiency of ice fishing.

While a particular embodiment of this heater arrangement has been shownand described, it will be obvious to persons skilled in the art thatchanges and modifications might be made without departing from theinvention in its broader aspects. It is the aim of the dependent claimsto cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the truescope and spent of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A heating device useful in ice fishing to preventfreezing of water within a hole cut in the ice and to provide auxiliaryheating for comfort and cooking comprising:a housing adapted to beplaced adjacent the hole in the ice; a reservoir containing evaporablefluid, said reservoir being separately located within said housing; anda heating means positioned within said housing cooperable with saidreservoir for delivering vaporized heat to maintain the hole open, andoperable for convectionally heating objects placed at the top of saidhousing, said reservoir being replaceable by said heating means toprovide direct heating of objects placed at the top of said housing. 2.A heating device as recited in claim 1, wherein said reservoir includesmeans for percolating the fluid in said reservoir to the hole in theice.
 3. A heating device as recited in claim 1 wherein said device isself-contained and includes a cover on said housing.
 4. A combinationvapor and convection heating device for ice fishing comprisinga housinghaving a bottom wall, a side wall and an open top; a displaceableheating means mounted within said housing; a movable reservoircontaining evaporable fluid located at a position within said housingadjacent said heating means; guide means positioned within said housingfor locating said heating means and said reservoir; and a removablecover engageable with the top of said housing, said device beingconstructed and arranged such that, in one mode, said heating means iscooperable with said reservoir to transfer vapor and liquid droplets toprevent freezing of water within a hole formed in the ice and in asecond mode with said reservoir removed, said heating means is displacedto the position of said reservoir for providing convection heating toobjects placed at the top of said housing.
 5. A heating device asrecited in claim 4 wherein, in said second mode, said cover is removedand said guide means are adjustable to provide support for objects to beheated at the top of said housing.
 6. A heating device as recited inclaim 4 wherein said heating means is a self-contained source comprisinga vessel containing a flammable substance and having a combustible wick.7. A heating device as recited in claim 4 including a support frameworkengageable with said guide means for supporting said reservoir.
 8. Aheating device as recited in claim 4, said heating means being suspendedabove the bottom wall of said housing and in communication with airoutside said housing.
 9. A multipurpose heating device useful in icefishing comprising:a housing having a bottom wall, a side wall and anopen top; a retractable heater core slidable into and out of saidhousing, said core including guide means extending axially of saidhousing, a displaceable, self-contained, combustion-type heating meanslocated at the bottom of said core, and a removable reservoir containingevaporable fluid supported in said core above said heating means; adamping means formed in said housing for controlling combustion of saidheating means; and a removable cover engageable with the top of saidhousing, whereby, in one mode, said heating means is cooperable withsaid reservoir to provide vaporized heat to prevent freezing of waterwithin a hole cut in the ice and, in a second mode effected byreplacement of said reservoir by said heating means, is able to providedirect heating for cooking objects and warming of human extremitiesplaced at the top of said housing.
 10. A heating device as recited inclaim 9 wherein said guide means includes handles for removing said corefrom said housing, said handles being adjustable inside or outside theperiphery of said housing to support objects to be heated.
 11. A heatingdevice as recited in claim 10 wherein said guide means further includethree L-shaped rods, the upper portion of which form said handles.